On the 24^th Commemoration of President René Moawad’s Martyrdom, the René Moawad Foundation in Washington D.C., USA, held a mass at the Lady of Lebanon church in Washington.

Monsignor Dominic Ashkar presided over the mass which was attended by the Lebanese ambassador in Washington, Mr. Antoine Chedid accompanied by his wife and many staff members at the embassy headed by Ms. Carla Jazzar, in addition to the President of the North American Chapter in the Lebanese Forces party in the U.S.A, Dr. Joseph Jbeily who also headed a large delegation from the party. Moreover, the mass was attended by Dr. Ziad Idriss and his wife; the family of martyr Colonel Joseph Ramia; and a large delegation from Mazraat Al-Touffah along a crowd of Lebanese nationals of the villages and towns of Zgharta Al-Zawiya living in Washington.

After the holy bible verses, Monsignor Ashkar delivered his sermon, which emphasized the qualities of the martyr President René Moawad, referring to him as “a man of moderation, reconciliation and openness to others…”

On the same occasion, the Independence Movement in Australia held a mass for martyr President René Moawad at the Lady of Lebanon church, presided by the patron of the Maronite diocese in Australia, Bishop Antoine Charbel Tarabay, assisted by Monsignor Bchara Merhi and fathers Antoine Tohme, Maroun Moussa and Tony Sarkis. The mass was attended by the Lebanese Consul, George Bitar Ghanem; Parliament Member Tony Issa; Bangladesh Honorary Consul Anthony Khoury; Mayor of Baramata, Jean Chedid; President of the Maronite League, Toufic Keyrouz; President of the in-state cultural league, Wissam Kazzi; representatives from the 14^th of March Alliance; the official representative of the Independence Movement in Australia, Assaad Barakat; and many of the Movement’s members, in addition to prominent Lebanese figures and Lebanese nationals from the villages and towns of Zgharta Al-Zawiya living in Australia.

After the holy bible verses, Bishop Antoine Charbel Tarabay gave a sermon in which he said: “On this annunciation Sunday, we raise our prayers in the loving memory of the martyr of Lebanon’s independence, the late President René Mouawad and his comrades who spilled their blood on the nation’s altar on November 22^nd, 1989.”

 Although President Mouawad only ruled for 18 days, he still managed to announce his principles and aspirations concerning the establishment of the Lebanese state based on the political reforms prescribed by the National Reconciliation Pact issued following to the Taif Agreement.

It was the newly elected President’s wish to reassert his loyalty to a unified and strong state, while reaffirming his determination to reinforce the Law on all citizens as well as to extend the arm of the state by its own virtue on all Lebanese soil and airspace. The President aimed at putting all weapons under the full control of the legitimate armed forces in his belief that a strong and unified state is the sole protector and guarantor of the people. His preoccupation was to achieve the national reconciliation among the Lebanese without excluding anyone. He spoke of himself as a man of harmony and moderation, and saw in the reconciliation a lifelong challenge which he strived to overcome.

Being the first President of the Second Republic following the Taif Agreement – also known as the Institutional Republic – Moawad was to spare no efforts in achieving the reconciliation he always sought. He aimed at creating a strong state with unified institutions, integrated powers, united citizens, and respected laws and regulations; a democratic state based on the unity of the people, the land and the institutions; a state that puts an end to the miseries of the Lebanese and fulfills their hopes. This is why the President aspired to reactivate public institutions in the framework of a patriotic strategy which would allow them to function in a responsible, balanced and harmonious way. To him, the military institution was a national priority, considering the army as a national emblem that is ought to be strong and unified, at the image of its people.

He added: “the principles in which President René Moawad believed and for which he fell martyr remain with us till this date. They’re the voice of conscious calling upon every Lebanese official in and out of state. Loyalty to the nation; national reconciliation; a sovereign, strong Republic with unified institutions; a strong army; and a heartfelt love for Lebanon; those were the headlines of our martyr President’s legacy.”

Bishop Tarabay concluded by saying: “On this 24^th Commemoration of President René Moawad’s Martyrdom, we raise our hopeful prayers, together with our loved ones and brothers in the Independence Movement in Australia, asking God almighty to protect all political leaders whom are faithful to their nations and their people. We also extend our heartfelt condolences to the former first lady Mrs. Naila whom shouldered her husband’s great national legacy along with her dear son, Michel, with all the love and readiness to bear any sacrifice for Lebanon. Our sincere condolences go to President Moawad’s daughter as well, in addition to the respective families of his martyr comrades whether here in Australia, in Lebanon or in the diaspora.”